Infectious diseases are among the top 10 causes of death worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic is harming hundreds of millions of people and disrupting societies. Immunisation is one of our strongest weapons against infectious diseases. Monitoring behavioural, economic and social factors impacting on vaccination acceptance, and reducing barriers to vaccination, remains a priority. Where vaccines are not yet available, non-pharmaceutical interventions are a mainstay of epidemic control. Infection control protects our healthcare workers from infection.
Our research and teaching improve the control of vaccine-preventable and other infectious and communicable diseases in human populations. We’re motivated by the desire to provide evidence to support decisions that will protect us from infectious diseases.
Our goals
Our research and teaching supports evidence-based policy, community engagement and advocacy for modern infectious disease control. Our research-informed teaching is supported by educators with experience in real-world epidemic surveillance and response, infectious disease modelling, vaccine research, epidemiology, and social science. This means our students and postgraduate research candidates are ready to make a meaningful contribution to the detection of, and response to, infectious disease threats.
Research strengths
- Vaccine effectiveness
- Vaccine uptake and attitudes
- Epidemiological modelling
- Infection control
- Economic evaluation
- Epidemic control decision support
- Traveller infections
- Epidemiology of infectious diseases
- Burden of acute respiratory infections
- Epidemiological modelling to support decision making around vaccines and drugs
Our impact
Our researchers are providing evidence for improving vaccine delivery and uptake among vulnerable global and local communities, supporting epidemic and pandemic control decisions, building regional capacity for health security. We work with the Australian and international government health departments and the World Health Organization to support local and global responses for infectious diseases, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.
